How To Grow Spaghetti Squash

If you’re looking for a fun and productive vegetable to add to your garden, learning how to grow spaghetti squash is a fantastic choice. This unique winter squash produces strands that resemble pasta when cooked, offering a healthy and versatile harvest.

Growing your own is surprisingly straightforward. With some sunshine, space, and patience, you can cultivate these hardy plants right in your backyard. This guide will walk you through every step, from seed to storage, ensuring you get a great crop.

Success with spaghetti squash starts with understanding its basic needs. It’s a warm-season crop that requires a long growing season, typically 90-100 days from planting to harvest. The plants are large and vining, needing plenty of room to spread out or a sturdy trellis to climb.

Choosing the Right Time and Place

Timing is everything. Spaghetti squash is very sensitive to cold soil and frost.

Planting Time: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 70°F (21°C). This is usually 1-2 weeks after your last average frost date.
Sunlight: Choose the sunniest spot in your garden. The plants need a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct, full sun each day for optimal growth and fruit production.
Soil: They prefer rich, well-draining soil. Amend your garden bed with several inches of compost or well-rotted manure before planting to provide nutrients and improve drainage.

Planting Your Spaghetti Squash

You can start seeds indoors or sow them directly in the garden. Direct sowing is often easier, as squash seedlings don’t always transplant well.

Direct Sowing in the Garden

Prepare small mounds or hills of soil about 3 feet in diameter and 6-12 inches high. Space mounds 4-6 feet apart. This improves drainage and warms the soil faster.
Plant 4-6 seeds per mound, pushing them about 1 inch deep into the soil.
Water the seeds in gently but thoroughly.
Once seedlings emerge and have 2-3 true leaves, thin them to the 2-3 strongest plants per mound by snipping the weaker ones at soil level.

Starting Seeds Indoors

If you have a short growing season, start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before your last frost date.

Use biodegradable pots (like peat pots) to minimize root disturbance.
Plant seeds 1 inch deep in potting mix.
Keep the soil warm (75-85°F) until germination, which takes 5-10 days.
Harden off seedlings for a week before transplanting them carefully, pot and all, into your prepared mounds.

Caring for Your Growing Plants

Consistent care through the summer is key to a heavy yeild.

Watering and Feeding

Spaghetti squash plants have shallow roots and need regular watering.

Water deeply at the base of the plant, providing 1-2 inches of water per week. Avoid wetting the leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
Mulch heavily around the plants with straw or shredded leaves. This conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and keeps the developing fruit clean.
If your soil was well-amended, additional fertilizer may not be needed. If growth seems slow, you can side-dress with a balanced, organic fertilizer when vines start to run and again when fruits begin to set.

Pollination

Squash plants produce separate male and female flowers. Bees and other pollinators transfer pollen from the male to the female flowers, which have a tiny fruit at their base.

If you notice small fruits turning yellow and shriveling, poor pollination might be the cause.
You can hand-pollinate by using a small paintbrush to collect pollen from a male flower and brushing it onto the center of a female flower in the morning.

Pest and Disease Management

Keep an eye out for common squash problems.

Squash Vine Borers: Look for sawdust-like frass near the base of the stem. You can try to slit the stem and remove the borer, or inject Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) into the stem.
Powdery Mildew: A white, powdery fungus on leaves. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and apply a fungicide labeled for edible plants if neccessary.
Squash Bugs: Hand-pick adults and egg clusters from the undersides of leaves daily.

Harvesting and Storing Your Squash

Knowing when and how to harvest ensures your spaghetti squash stores well for months.

When to Harvest

Harvest in late summer or fall before the first hard frost. Signs of ripeness include:

The rind turns a deep, uniform yellow (or ivory, depending on variety).
The skin is very hard and cannot be punctured easily with your fingernail.
The stem begins to dry out and turn brown.

How to Harvest

Use sharp pruners or a knife to cut the fruit from the vine.
Leave a sturdy 2-3 inch stem attached to the squash. A broken stem creates an entry point for rot.
Handle the squash carefully to avoid bruising.

Curing and Storage

Proper curing hardens the skin for long-term storage.

Wipe off any dirt with a dry cloth.
Place the squash in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area (like a sunny porch or garage) for 10-14 days. This process is called curing.
After curing, store them in a cool (50-55°F), dark, and dry place. Do not let them touch each other. A basement or cool closet works well.
Correctly cured and stored spaghetti squash can last for 3-6 months or even longer.

Common Questions About Growing Spaghetti Squash

Can I grow spaghetti squash in a container?

Yes, but choose a very large container—at least 20 gallons. Use a high-quality potting mix and ensure it has excellent drainage. A compact or bush variety is best suited for container growing.

Why are my spaghetti squash plants flowering but not producing fruit?

Early flowers are often male and will not produce fruit. Female flowers come later. If you see female flowers (with a small fruit base) that wither, it’s likely a pollination issue. Try hand-pollinating to help.

How many spaghetti squash will one plant produce?

A healthy, well-spaced plant can typically produce 4-5 fruits, sometimes more. The size and number can vary based on variety, weather, and growing conditions.

Can I save seeds from my spaghetti squash to plant next year?

You can, but only if it’s an open-pollinated or heirloom variety. Hybrid seeds may not produce true to the parent plant. Scoop seeds from a fully ripe squash, rinse them clean, and let them dry completely on a paper towel before storing in a cool, dry place.

What are good companion plants for spaghetti squash?

Nasturtiums, radishes, marigolds, and beans are good companions. Avoid planting them near potatoes, as they can compete for nutrients. The traditional “Three Sisters” method pairs squash with corn and beans beautifully.

Growing spaghetti squash is a rewarding project that pays off with a delicious and versatile harvest. By giving the plants the space, sun, and care they need, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying your own homegrown “pasta” straight from the garden. Remember to start with warm soil, be patient for the fruits to fully ripen, and cure them properly for the best storage results. With these steps, you’ll have a bounty to enjoy long after the growing season ends.